Safety-stirrup.



No. 828,237. PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

' W. P. MQFADDEN.

SAFETY STIRRUP.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.7.1906.

WBM 'Faddm attorney marrnn STATES" ieArnNr orrron.

WVINNING P. MOFADDEN, OF SILVER HILL, WVEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR- OFONE-THIRD TO IRA MILLER AND ONE-THIRD TO FRENZY E. MILLER, OF SILVERHILL, WEST VIRGINIA.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Batented. Aug. '7, 1906 Application filed October 7,1905. Serial No.281.799.

To a whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WINNING P. McFAD- DEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Silver Hill, in the county of Wetzel and State ofWest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements inSafety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to safety-stirrups; and its primary object is toprovide a novel and highly useful device of this character which isreadily and quickly detached from its support by the tilting of one footof the rider in the stirrup should he be thrown from his mount, wherebysuch accidents as occur from the dismounted riders inability to eX-tract his foot from the stirrup are obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety-stirrup whichcomprises but few parts, which is simple and durable of construction,andwhich may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where-1n Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the safety-stirrupconstructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a centralvertical sectional view thereof.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 designates a tubularstirrup-supporting member, the upper end thereof having formedintegrally therewith an eye 2, through the medium of which the member 1is secured to the stirrup-strap.

3 desi nates the stirrup, which may be of the usua form and constructionand which is secured to the lower end of a stem 4. The lower end of thestem 4 is reduced, as at 5, and provided with an opening 6, throughwhich passes the upper end of the stirrup 3. The stirrup 3 may besecured in the opening 6 to provide rigid connection between the stirrupand stem in any suitable manner. The upper end of the stem 4 is providedwith a reduced shank 7, said shank fitting loosely within the tubularmember 1. The shank 7 is provided with a locking-recess 8, alining withan opening 9 in the tubular member 1. The inward movement of the shank 7within the tubular member 1 is (Not shown.)

limited by means of the shoulder 10, formed by the reduction of the stem4, whereby the alining in the recess 8 and opening 9 is rendered easy.Bearing-arms 11 are formed integrally with the stem 4 and projectlaterally therefrom. A lever 12 is pivotally secured between thebearing-arms 11 by means of a pintle 13, the upper end of said leverextending above the bearing-arms and having its extremity bent toprovide a locking portion, said locking portion projecting through theopening 9 into the recess 8, whereby to firmly connect the stirrup tothe tubular supporting member 1. The lower portion of the lever 12extends downwardly and is curved outwardly and inwardly to dispose itslower end beneath the stem 4 and between the sides of the stirrup 3. Tothis lower end of the lever is integrally secured an arcuate-shapedfootpiece 15, said foot-piece being disposed above the tread-portion ofthe stirrup 3, whereby an undue tilting of the foot of the rider willengage the same and remove the locking portion 14 of the lever fromengagement with the recess 8, thereby permitting the stirrup to becomedetached from its support. The reduced portion 5 of the stem 4 isprovided with a recess formed by an annular flange 16, and arranged uponthe lever 12 in alinement with said recess is a stud 17. A spring'18 hasone end secured within said recess and its other end engaging the stud17, said spring servin to normally retain the lockin portion 14 of t elever 12 in engagement witi the recess 8.

It is apparent from the above description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that should a rider be dismounted the footremaining in the stirrup would be tilted and caused to engage thefoot-piece 15. The engagement of the foot-piece 15 would turn the lever12 upon its pivot, and thereby remove the locking portion 14 thereoffrom the recessS, and thereby permit the stirrup to become detached fromits support.

By constructing the lever so that its upper end will form the lockingmember 14 the use of pins and analogous devices to unite the stirrup toa supporting member is obviated and provides a safer connection andrenders the device cheaper of manufacture and sale.

Changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction maybe made Within the scope of the invention without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is- Adevice of the character described, comprising a tubular supportingmember provided with an opening and adapted to be secured to astirrup-strap, a stem having its up per end reduced to provide a shankand shoulder and having its lower end reduced and provided with anopening, said lower re duced portion being provided with a recess formedby an annular flange, a stirrup secured to said lower reduced portionthrough the medium of said opening, bearing-arms secured to the stem, alever pivotally secured between said arms, the upper end of said leverbeing bent to provide a locking member and its lower end being providedwith a foot plate and a stud, and a spring having one end mounted withinsaid recess and its other end engaging said stud.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l/VINNING P. MCFADDEN.

Witnesses:

F. E. MILLER, E. O. KISNER.

